Aberration, probably but of what?

Discussion forum for getting a butterfly identified.
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SimonC69
Posts: 83
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 11:59 am
Location: Hertfordshire

Aberration, probably but of what?

Post by SimonC69 »

<slinks back in as if he's been here all along>

Ok, I found this today, north Hertfordshire on some rough ground/wildflower area. Lots of meadow brown and small torts, a few whites and I think I saw a couple of ringlets but everything was way too quick today.
In flight it looked completely black on the upper surfaces. Because both hindwings were deformed I didn't get any clue from flight pattern because it was flying rather erratically. I'm fairly sure it's a butterfly,.not a moth due to the clubbed antennae.

The only thing I can come up with is a fully melanistic ab. Of Ringlet? But that is just a stab in the dark.

The second picture isn't a true representation of the colours of it, due to the sun. The grey of the first is spot on though
MAC_1675.jpg
MAC_1677.jpg
millerd
Posts: 7280
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:31 pm
Location: Heathrow

Re: Aberration, probably but of what?

Post by millerd »

It's certainly a butterfly. Secondly it appears to clearly have only four fully functional legs, which narrows things down to a member of the Nymphalidae. It looks fairly small (not one of the aristocrats, or a fritillary) so that leaves the various brown butterflies. My guess is a very worn Small Heath - the hairy-looking head fits with this too. With virtually no markings it's hard to be sure! :)

Cheers,

Dave
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